Method of charging containers with high explosives



C. A. WOODBURY.

METHOD OF CHARGING CONTAINERS WITH HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. IBIB.

1 329, 5 6 6 Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

3&172 (I) Mom 124 1- UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD A. WOODIBURY, F MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF CHARGING CONTAINERS WITH HIGH EXPLOSIVES'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.,

Original application filed August 4, 1917, Serial No. 184,491. Divided and this application filed May 23,

1918. 'Serial No.-236,098.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFoRD AI WOOD- BURY, of Middletown township, in the county of Delaware and in the State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a certain new and use-v ful Improvement in Methods of Charging Containers with High Explosives, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to a process of charging containers intended to be exploded, such as shells, grenades, torpedoes, etc., with high explosives.

One object of the invention is to provide a process of charging containers with anexplosive which will render new sources of raw materials available for high explosive purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process by which an explosivecharge may be cast into a container and there caused to solidify and completely fill the space provided for the charge.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved process of charging containers with high explosives i hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

ers intended to be exploded, such as shells,

grenades, torpedoes, mines, etc., with burst: ing charges, it is desirable to introduce the largest possible charge into a given space, so

as to produce the maximum bursting effect. Trinitrotoluol has heretofore been used to a very large extent, because, amon other reasons, it has a relatively low me ting point and is therefore easily melted and can be kept melted while being. introduced into the shell or other body and does not freeze or sive, forcev su' troto luol in whole or in part. I have discovered a new bursting charge for the said purpose, which is of high power; is safe for the purpose; and which bursting charge, though useful and available when 7 introducedinto the shell or other container in solid condition, has ingredients having melting points too high'to permit such ingredients as a practical matter to be melted and cast into the shell. I have, therefore, in-

vented a process by which the said ingredients can, in effect, become part of a molten mass of such low melting-point as to be caand which charge has such qualities that it is pable of being successfully cast into a shell solidified; is highly explosive, and is easily detonated; and yet is relatively safeunder all ordinary conditions other than detonation.

as obtained by direct nitration of toluol, or a product obtained by refining the crude product.

My new bursting charge consists of a mixture of trinitrotoluol and picri-c acid, to which mixture may be added, if desired,

trinitroxylene. The preparation of the trinitroxylene is preferably so controlled as to produce a solid, finely divided product.

This bursting chargecan be detonated by standard fuses or primers at present in use in'shells and 'rojectiles and has an exploantially' equal to that of trinitrotoluol.

. The trinitrotoluol used in my bursting charge may be either a crude product, such In charging a shell, the ingredients may be pressed into the shell in a dry condition making a compact charge which is-readily detonated by the usual primer. It is desirable, however, as above stated, to cast the charge into the shell in order to get the maximum possible weight of explosive into the shell. The picric acid and the trinitroxylene, having melting points too high to 100 permit them to be cast under commercial conditions, I have, as stated, invented a process by which the said ingredients can, in effect, become part of a molten mass of such low melting point as to be capable of being cast into a shell.

The trinitrotoluol is melted and the desired quantity of picric acid added, keeping the temperature well above the freezing point of the mixture. I believe the picric acid virtually goes into solution with the melted trinitrotoluol, producing a homogeneous liquid, although I do not wish to be bound by this expression of opinion. At temperatures of from 80 to 90 C. approximately 50 parts of picric acid can be added to 50 parts of trinitrotoluol before a point is reached where no further picric acid will dissolve in the melted trinitrotoluol.

To the mixture thus obtained may then be added either picric acid or trinitroxylene or both substances, keeping the temperature of the mixture well above its freezing point.

' In case of adding further picric acid the amount that can 'be added can be varied within wide limits without seriously ati'ecting the casting properties. This additional picric acid I believe to remain in suspension in the liquid mixture of picric acid and trinitrotoluol. I have found that a mixture of 25% trinitrotoluol and 75% picric acid can readily be cast into a shell or other container.

On adding the trinitroxylene to the mixture of trinitrotoluol and picric acid, Ifbelieve the explosive is carried in suspension in the liquid mixture of trinitrotoluol and picrlc acid. The'percentage of any-one of the ingredients that may be added to-the liquid mixture will necessarily vary, depending upon the fineness of the explosive and somewhat upon the temperature at which the mixing is carried on.

The following formulae are typical of mixtures that can be used satisfactorily:

25% to 50% of trinitrotoluol. 75% to 50% of picric acid.

20% trinitrotoluol. 20% picricacid. 60% trinitroxylol.

33% trinitrotoluol. 339, 72; picric acid, 33 trinitroxylol.

25% trinitrotoluol. 50% picric acid. 25% trinitroxylol.

50% trinitrotoluol. 25% picric acid. a 25% trinitroxylol.

having a detonating fuse 3 containing a detonator for detonating the bursting charge.

By the term container as used in the claims is meant a container intended to be exploded, such as a shell, grenade, torpedo, mine, etc.

The preferred form of the invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new is:

1. The process of charging an explosive container with trinitrotoluol, picric acid and trinitroxylene, comprising melting trinitrotoluol, dissolving picric acid in the trinitrotoluol, dissolving trinitroxylene in the trinitrotoluol-picric-acid solution while maintaining the temperature of the mixture above the melting point of trinitrotoluol,

and pouring the liquid mixture into the container. r

2. The process of chargin' an explosive container with trinitrotoluo picric acid and trinitroxylene, comprising melting trinitrotoluol, dissolving picric acid in the trinitrotoluol, introducing trinitroxylene mto said solution while maintaining the temperatureof the solution below the melting point of picric acid, and pouring the liquid mixture into the container 3. The process of charging an explosive container with trinitrotoluol, picric acid and trinitroxylene, comprising melting trinitro toluol, dissolving picric acid in the trinitrotoluol, holding'in suspension an excess of picric acid in the trinitrotoluol-picric-acid solution, adding trinitroxylene to said solution, and pouring the liquidmixture into the container.

4. The process of charging an explosive container with trinitrotoluol, picric acid and trinitroxylene, comprising melting trinitrotoluol, dissolving picric acid in the trinitrotoluol, introducing trinitroxylene in the trinitrotoluol-picric-acid solution, holding an excess of trinitroxylene in suspension in said solution, and pouring the liquid mix I ture into the container.

5. The process of charging an explosive container with trinitrotoluol, picric acid and trinitroxylene, comprising melting trinitrotoluol, dissolving picric acid in the trinitro- I toluol, introducing trinitroxylene in the 'trinitrotoluol-picric-acid solution, holding an excess of picric acid and trinitroxylene in suspension in said solution, and pouring the liquid mixture into the container.

6. The process of charging an explosive container with trinitrotolu ol,piric acid and trinitroxylene, comprising melting trinitrotoluol, dissolving picric acid in the trinitrotoluol, introducing trinitroxylene in the trinitrotoluol-picric-acid solution, holding in suspension in said solution anexcess of picric acid, and pouring the liquid mixture into the container.

7. The process of preparing an explosive which comprises dissolving picric acid in trinitrotoluol and holding trinitroxylene in suspension in said solution while maintaining the temperature of the liquid mixture below the melting point of-picric acid.

.8. The process of preparing an'explosive which comprises melting trinitrotoluol, adding a quantity of piano acid in excess of the amount soluble 1n the trinitrotoluol, and introducing trinitroxylene intothe liquid mixture while maintaining the temperature of said mixture below the melting point of picric acid- 9. The process of preparing an ex losive which comprises melting trinitrotoluo adding a quantity of picric acid greater than 50% of the amount of trinitrotoluol, and introducing trinitroxylene into the liquid mixture while maintaining the temperature adding a quantity of trinitroxylene greater than 10% of the mount of trinitrotoluol while maintaining. the temperature of the.

liquid mixture above the melting point or trinitrotoluol and below the melting point of icric acid.

11 testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

CLIFFORD A. WOODBURY.

.Witnesses:

K.v A. Gnms'rm, A. T. CANBY. 

